Former Choctaw Nation executive Jason Merida, 41, of Rattan, is facing seven counts, including conspiracy to commit theft or
bribery of programs receiving federal funds, theft by an employee of a
tribal government receiving federal funds, money laundering, and tax
fraud.

Prosecutors say Merida went on expensive hunting trips and
traveled on a private jet operated by Builders Steel, which was a
contractor for the Choctaw Nation, and that Builders Steel also bought property for his family and guns.

The transactions alleged involve hundreds of thousands of dollars.Merida appeared in Muskogee federal court on Thursday and was released on $10,000 bond while awaiting trial, prosecutors said.

A PUSHMATAHA COUNTY MAN IS ARRAIGNED ON FEDERAL BRIBERY CHARGES..

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[CG :1 KTEN NBC - L3 2-Line Locator 2\Former Choctaw Exec Arraigned\DURANT, OK]
41-YEAR-OLD FORMER CHOCTAW NATION EXECUTIVE "JASON MERIDA" OF
RATTAN.. IS FACING 7 COUNTS.. INCLUDING CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT THEFT OR
BRIBERY OF PROGRAMS RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDS.. THEFT BY AN EMPLOYEE OF
TRIBAL GOVERNMENT RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDS.. MONEY LAUNDERING.. AND TAX
FRAUD..
PROSECUTORS SAY.. MERIDA WENT ON EXPENSIVE HUNTING TRIPS AND
TRAVELED ON A PRIVATE JET OPERATED BY BUILDERS STEEL.. WHICH WAS A
CONTRACTOR FOR THE CHOCTAW NATION..
AND THAT "BUILDERS" ALSO BOUGHT PROPERTY FOR HIS FAMILY.. AND GUNS..
THE TRANSACTIONS ALLEGED...INVOLVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS..
MERIDA APPEARED IN MUSKOGEE FEDERAL COURT THURSDAY AND WAS RELEASED ON 10-THOUSAND DOLLARS BOND WHILE AWAITING TRIAL..